A friend sent me this and thought I would share it.
https://youtu.be/SzXJ3vuCzCc&rel=0
O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.
(Psalms 67:4 KJV)
Tag Archives: Inspiration
Birdwatching Without Birdwatching
Bald Eagle (close up) LP Zoo by Dan
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31 KJV)
Today we were blessed with the sightings of four mature Bald Eagles. Each had their beautiful white heads and their white tails visible. And I wasn’t even out birdwatching. I therefore had no camera with me.
Because I am still under the weather fighting a bad cold and my slipped disc, we have not gone “birdwatching.” So this morning on the way home from therapy, we spotted a Bald Eagle on one of the power poles. A few days ago we had seen one nearby on another street, so this may have been the same one.
I love this time of the year because the eagles start migrating back down to spend the winter with us. Polk County, Florida, where we live, has one of the highest concentrations (in the lower 48) from now through the winter.
Osprey Road by Dan – (Old Bartow Road)
This evening, we drove to Bartow on the Old Bartow Road, which I have renamed “Osprey” road. I call it that because of all the Ospreys that make nest on the flat platforms that are on the power poles. They were placed there when the Osprey were becoming endangered. Now they are recovering right well. Anyway, most of the Ospreys left within the last month, except for one or two, which we saw this evening. (They come down in late January or early February, make babies, and then leave July to August.)
On the way back, we spotted one Bald Eagle sitting in one of the nest and then up about this end, where the picture was taken, there were two more standing in a nest. So much for traipsing through the woods to find an eagle, they were just right there in plain view.
So, even though I didn’t get to go birdwatching lately, the Lord brought the birdwatching to us. What a Blessing. Thank you Lord for allowing us to see them.
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) by Lee at National Aviary
I have seen other birds while we were riding around, but Bald Eagles are very special to me. As that top verse says, I am to be reminded that my strength will be renewed, not be weary or faint. Not so sure about the running though. :)
Accipitridae – Kites, Hawks and Eagles
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In The Hollow Of His Hand
Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) by Rat Kirkfield
Are not two little sparrows sold for a penny? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s leave (consent) and notice. But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, then; you are of more value than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:29-31 AMP)
IN THE HOLLOW OF HIS HAND.
(From an Ornithologist’s Year Book.)
So tiny that a child’s small palm can cover its whole body, inaudible at a few paces’ distance, invisible till it rises at your very feet, such is our yellow-winged sparrow. Yet he is a marvel; his plumage shows an exquisite mimicry of the earth tints, “the upper parts mixed black, rufous-brown, ashy and cream-buff,” with a touch of “yellowish olive-green” for the herbage, and here and there an orange or yellow shade, and a dusky whiteness beneath, to give the effect of light. What could be more perfect? No wonder the wee householders, with a nest of fine-woven grasses, low upon the ground, sits unseen on her “clutch” of wee speckled eggs within reach of your fingers. She knows this well, and will not rise until you are almost upon her retreat. Nor will she fly far. A fence post, a low shrub will serve as her watchtower until danger is over.
Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) ©WikiC
Our yellow-tinted sparrow has another name, the “Grasshopper Sparrow,” from its insect-like tremolo and chirp. Its song is a chord or two and a long trill on the insect letter, z. It is sung, to the eye, with a hearty abandon of joy, the head thrown back and mouth open, in a fine pose of ecstasy; yet, unless all around is still, and you listen with attention, not a sound will you hear, so small and fine are the vibrating tones. It is said, in a story of the Highlands, that on certain nights, if a man will but lay a couchant ear close to the breast of the earth, he may hear the fine, fine piping of the fairy tunes played in the underworld. Our bird’s song is one of these faint, sweet voices of the earth, like the music that breathes from every clod or leaf when the old world lies dreaming and dozing in a bit of holiday after work is done on a warm, sunny afternoon in autumn, a musical, tremulous, sweet piping everywhere.
Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) ©WikiC
Yet not one of these small creatures is forgotten before its Father. When the frost is in the air, and winter is near, the Divine impulse stirs in its breast, and its little wings will bear it far, far away in the long, mysterious journey over sea to the warm islands of the Atlantic. There it will sing for joy with its fellows in the sun, but when April returns, look well. Is there not a stir in the short grass? And listen. The faint, dream-like thrill throbs again in the throat of the sparrow, and our ground-dweller has returned. It is a parable of God’s care for His little ones.
Ella F. Mosby.
“Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. (Luke 12:6-7 NKJV)
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This is from Gutenberg’s eBooks.
BIRDS AND NATURE. Vol. X NOVEMBER, 1901. No. 4
I just found another wealth of great birds tales and information to write about. These are all in the Public Domain.
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Grasshopper Sparrow – Wikipedia
Grasshopper Sparrow – All About Birds
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Dad and Mom its feeding time..
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)with youngsters by Raymond Barlow
This is for every blessed parent who so anxiously works hard in raising their kids in the way of the Lord…
And for the kids being fed by their parents.
Birds emerge from the shell blind and so weak
they can’t even hold their heads up.
Parents must feed babies frequently because
baby birds digest their food quickly.
The larger the babies grow, the more food they require.
Baby Crows need at least half their weight in food
every day just to stay alive.
a baby Belted Kingfishers eat 1 to 1 3/4 times
their weight in fish every day.
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) with young in nest
On average, a songbird nestling
receives four-12 feedings
of protein-rich insect food every hour.
Young Hawks are fed about once an hour.
Feeding duties aren’t always divided
equally between the sexes.
This varies with the species and
the inclination of the individual bird.
One male House Wren – a single male
whose mate disappeared – fed his nestlings
1,217 times between 4:15 a.m. and 8 p.m.
That’s about one trip every 47 seconds.
It’s astonishing how much a young bird can eat.
In one instance, a young American Robin,
who was supposed to leave the nest that day,
was experimentally fed all the earthworms it would eat.
Each worm was measured.
The Robin ate 14 feet of worms.
Orni-Theology
If birds can feed so much to their chicks every day,
how much would God expect us as a parent
to nourish our kids with spiritual food.
Well, do we feed the word of God to our kids every day?
Kids, are you eating well? Are you reading and listening to the Word of God?
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1/blockquote>
Yours in YESHUA,
a j mithra
(Found this on the Kid’s blog. AJ wrote it especially for that blog before joining the Lord in Glory)
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Birds – The Color That Only God Can Do
Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata) by Dan
Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them. (Psalms 111:2 ESV)
Here is a neat blog worth looking at to see all the beautiful color that God put in Birds.
via Birds.
Enjoy the beauty of these birds.
Wordless Birds
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This is by N7QVC’s Christian Blog.
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Fixed Daddy’s Bedtime Bird Stories
Daddy’s Bedtime Bird Stories had some broken links because of a change in Gutenberg’s policy. They do not want links to their articles and photos. Long story short, I fixed them and now they should be okay. I also added photo links since I had to redo all of them. Here are the stories so far. I realized there are many stories yet to be told yet. Stay tuned!
(If you should find any broken links, please leave a comment on that story so it can be fixed. Thanks.)
These are the ones available for reading:
- Old Mr. Owl Writes a Book
- The Woodpeckers Start a Bird Band
- The Cardinal Bird and the Robin
- The Winter Wrens’ Dew-drop Baths
- How the Little Redbird Became Red
- The Race Between the Secretary Birds
- The Brave Brown Sparrows in Winter
- The Naughty Little Sick Snowbirds
- The Robins Come to the Rescue
- The Rescue of the Canary Bird
- Small Fire Department Rescues Birds
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Links:
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More Good News Tracts
Sandhill Crane babies
My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. (Proverbs 4:20-23 NKJV)
Nine more Good News Tract pages were added today. There are 31 altogether and they have not only the written text, but also audio.
The is especially one that might interest you more than the others.
Here are the new ones:
- Family: Building a Home God’s Way
- Fear: Breaking Every Chain
- Frogs
- Hope for Hard Times
- How Can We Know that We’ll Go to Heaven
- In Our Place
- Is There a God?
- Kids, You Are Special
- Marriage: 10 Principles for a Better Relationship
I trust you can learn from them and/or use them to encourage others.
and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, (1 Thessalonians 3:2 NKJV)
Below are links to the Various Tracts from Crossway with each having the words and an audio:
Good News! Did you know that christianaudio has produced the audio tracts for many of the most popular Crossway tracts? They are free for the taking and free to distribute. In fact, Crossway distributes more than 23 million every year. Written by Max Lucado, Billy Graham, Mark Driscoll, John Piper and others, they have simple and profound truths to help teach the Good News! There are 31 in an easy to download zip file. They are free for the taking in both audio and PDF and able to be shared without restriction.To learn more about Good News Tracts, visit www.goodnewstracts.org.
These are the ones finished so far:
- 4 Things God Wants You to Know
- 10 Reasons Jesus Came to Die
- 3:16 The Numbers of Hope
- Assurance: The Certainty of Salvation
- Bats
- Can I Be Forgiven?
- Changed From the Inside Out
- Death by Love
- Family: Building a Home God’s Way
- Fear: Breaking Every Chain
- Frogs
- Hope for Hard Times
- How Can We Know that We’ll Go to Heaven
- In Our Place
- Is There a God?
- Kids, You Are Special
- Marriage: 10 Principles for a Better Relationship
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(Relocated)
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Lesson From The Bird’s Nest
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A week ago, we went to Lake Morton in Lakeland for half hour or so. Several of the Swans were sitting on nest and a Peking Duck or a White Mallard was working on her nest. She kept adding twigs and grass to the nest and then walked away.
Have you ever watched a bird build or work on a nest? They add the “walls” and a “floor” and some birds like Weavers, make a “roof” over their nest.
As I watched the bird working on her nest, it reminded me of what was going on at our house. As I mentioned last week, our house was in “disarray” while our “spare” bedroom and two other areas were being worked on. Many spare rooms become a collection of “stuff.” (At least our is)
Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD. (Isaiah 39:6 KJV)
This was a warning to the Israelites. We all know that there are good things put in “store.”
Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. (1 Corinthians 16:2 KJV)
Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. (1 Timothy 6:19 KJV)
Back to our nest. This verse: “Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration. But my people do not know the requirements of the LORD.” (Jeremiah 8:7 NIV)
Another lesson we can learn from our birds. They do not load their nest with stuff. Some add colorful threads now and then, but there are no hat racks or closets with different feathers hanging. They do not have to decide what color feather they to wear today. No cooking utensils to worry about. No suitcase ready to pack when it become time to migrate. When it is time to go, they go.
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) with youngstersby Raymond Barlow
Must be a lesson there. I am a bit of a pack-rat and it has been interesting around here lately. Especially when all did not go as planned. A mix-up caused a delay, so the disarray has continued longer than expected. Now that the floor is finally completed, I am trying to de-clutter some as “things” are returned to the “spare” room. At least the computer is back up and running. Yeah!
Yep! The birds have the right idea. Lord bless you all as you face your challenges. Maybe the birds will have a hint to help you also.
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Wordless Birds
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Birds of the Bible – Woodpecker & Friend’s Storehouse
Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) by Raymond Barlow
While working on the El Carpintero – The Woodpeckers article, many Bible verses about “gathering” and “storing” things were found. Following are some of those verses with photos. There is also a video of an Acorn Woodpecker gathering his supply.
We have used the verse about birds teaching us, so let’s see what can be learned this time about gathering and storing. (Job 12:7)
Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) with Hoard or Grainary WikiC
He who gathers in summer is a wise son; He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame. (Proverbs 10:5 NKJV)
Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest. (Proverbs 6:8 NKJV) (the ant)
Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) by Reinier Munguia
Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it. (Proverbs 13:11 ESV)
Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) by Ian
Wise people store up knowledge, But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction. The rich man’s wealth is his strong city; The destruction of the poor is their poverty. The labor of the righteous leads to life, The wages of the wicked to sin. (Proverbs 10:14-16 NKJV)
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) by Ray – They will store food for later use.
He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; (Proverbs 2:7 NKJV)
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) Collecting for Cache
For they do not know to do right,’ Says the LORD, ‘Who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.’ ” (Amos 3:10 NKJV)
Western Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma californica) Holding an Acorn ©WikiC
storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. (1 Timothy 6:19 NKJV)
Grey-headed Chickadee or Siberian Tit (Poecile cinctus, formerly Parus cinctus) May store upto 500,000 items per year ©WikiC
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Birds of the Bible – Heron’s Teaching
Green Heron (Butorides virescens) by Lee
“But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; And the birds of the air, and they will tell you; (Job 12:7 NKJV)
I have thinking about that Green Heron in the video I posted a few days ago. (Green Heron Fishing With Bread) The verse above makes me think there has to be some lessons to learn from it. These are just some of my thoughts and I am sure you can come up with some of your own.
One that comes to thought right off is that bird’s patience. Are we?
These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season. That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good. (Psalms 104:27-28 KJV)
The verse used on the article tells how the Lord protects and provides for His creation. Will He not provide for us also. He loves us and wants to meet our needs, just as was provided for this Heron.
Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (Matthew 6:26 NKJV)
Another lesson is that the bird is doing something that we wouldn’t think it could do. You wonder where it learned that behavior. For us, the Lord wants us to do something, and if we are willing, we are amazed at what we can do. Things we would never think we had the capacity to do He helps us perform..
Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. (Mark 9:23 KJV)
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Philippians 4:13 KJV)
He (the heron) has a goal in mind and isn’t going to give up even though it takes several attempts to accomplish his goal. The Lord tells us to become “fishers of men” and we need to keep trying and not give up. Even when our “bread” is down to hardly anything and you think you might as well give up, you try one more time.
So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. (1 Corinthians 3:7-8 KJV)
On a more light side, I am not so sure that the Heron wasn’t bordering on “gluttony.” Did you see that last part where it is swallowing the fish. Looks like it almost “bit of more than it could chew.”
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. (Romans 13:14 KJV)
These are but a few and if you have some, leave a comment and share them with us.
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Thanks to MrBeemBom for taking the video and sharing it on YouTube.
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Birds of the Bible – Prayer
Sandhill Cranes with “Colts”
“Ah, Soul, God does listen to the chattering of cranes! I know He does, for I have read in His Word what is tantamount to that in the text [Isaiah 38:14],
Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail with looking upward: O LORD, I am oppressed; undertake for me. (Isaiah 38:14 KJV)
Northern Raven (Corvus corax) by Kent Nickell
“He hears the young ravens when they cry.”
And surely if He hears a raven’s cry and if not a sparrow falls to the ground without our Father, your prayer, though it may be very indistinct and the language, itself, may be very unworthy of the Divine ear, yet it shall command an audience and will bring down a blessing from above!”
American Tree Sparrow (Spizella arborea) w chicks ©USFWS
Above is a quote from C. H. Spurgeon’s Notable Quotes: —Volume 61, Sermon #3468
Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. (Psalms 5:1-3 KJV)
See all the:
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Birds of the Bible – Trusting Under The Wing
Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) young on her wing ©USFWS
The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust. (Ruth 2:12 KJV)
While searching for “wing” or “wings” in my e-Sword, I discovered this really great verse. Let’s dig into it.
Searching further using “under” and “wing” here are a few more verses that sort of relate to the verse above:
Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings, (Psalms 17:8 KJV)
How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. (Psalms 36:7 KJV)
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. (Psalms 91:4 KJV)
Matthew 23:37 and Luke 13:34 mention being gathered under the wing, but they were not willing. Also, in Birds of the Bible – Under His Wing we covered. no pun intended, how birds protect their young under their wings and how God protects us. But the verse above seem to imply our trust.
What is being trusted? Boaz is implying that Ruth is trusting in the “LORD God of Israel.” She is from another country, another culture and religious way of life, but has turned her trust over to the LORD. That is something I did personally way back in 1960. I put my trust in the Lord to be my personal Savior. It was the best decision of my life.
Storks Shadowing Baby in Lakeland by Dan
In the Psalms verses, we can know that the Lord keeps His Eye on His own and we should desire to be the “apple of the eye.” Notice in the other verses that while we are under the wings we are trusting. Who? The Lord or LORD. Why do we trust? Wow! Look around at all the Lord has done just in creation and care of the birds. How about our care? We know through promises all through the Word of God that He cares for us. We know He doesn’t lie or do things for our harm. We also know that He is just and will give judgment when needed. We could go on and on, but you can also see that the Lord Jesus Christ is “trustworthy.”
Baby Chick Peeping Out From Under His Mom’s Wing – ©©
We know the birds trust their parents to protect them while they are under their wings. Should we not trust the Savior while we are under His wings?
Here is a quote from the Believer’s Bible Commentary:
“2:4-12 When Boaz arrived from Bethlehem, he asked the identity of the young woman. Learning that she was Naomi’s daughter-in-law, he cordially invited her to continue gleaning in his fields and to share the water provided for his workers. In praising her for the loyal and selfless step that she had taken, Boaz concluded with a little prayer for her:
The LORD repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge (v. 12).
Leon Morris comments:
In due course, the prayer was answered through him who uttered it. He recognizes the religious aspect of Ruth’s change of country by saying that she has come to trust (AV) under Yahweh’s wings. The imagery is probably that of a tiny bird struggling under the wings of a foster-mother. It gives a vivid picture of trust and security. . . .
From J. Vernon McGee:
“She had come to trust the Lord God. This is the reason she had left the land of Moab and made that radical decision. She had said that the God of Naomi would be her God. She had turned from idolatry to the living and true God. This woman has come to trust God; she was one of His children. Therefore this is the wonderful testimony that she had there in the land of Israel. And Boaz says, “May a full reward be given to you. May you be recompensed for this decision.”
From Matthew Henry:
“(5.) He (Boaz) prayed for her (Ruth_2:12): The Lord recompense thy work. Her strong affection to the commonwealth of Israel, to which she was by birth an alien, was such a work of the divine grace in her as would certainly be crowned with a full reward by him under whose wings she had come to trust. Note, Those that by faith come under the wings of the divine grace, and have a full complacency and confidence in that grace, may be sure of a full recompense of reward for their so doing. From this expression, the Jews describe a proselyte to be one that is gathered under the wings of the divine majesty.”
From John Gill’s Exposition:
“under whose wings thou art come to trust; whom she professed to be her God, and whom she determined to serve and worship; whose grace and favour she expected, and to whose care and protection she committed herself: the allusion is either to fowls, which cover their young with their wings, and thereby keep them warm and comfortable, and shelter and protect them, see Psa_36:7 or to the wings of the cherubim overshadowing the mercy seat, Exo_25:20 and the phrase is now adopted by the Jews to express proselytism; and so the Targum here,”thou art come to be proselyted, and to be hid under the wings of the Shechinah of his glory,”or his glorious Shechinah.”
My all time favorite photo showing this:
Under His Wings – by Ric Seet
Other Articles to check out:
- Birds of the Bible
- Birds of the Bible – Under His Wing
- Wordless Birds
- Mother and Her Chicks
- God’s Care For Birds
- Thick-billed Murre – Did GOD Create Us To Fall?
- Worship – The God Pleaser
- Birds of the Bible – More Value
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Birds of the Bible For Kids 